By Saminu Ibrahim
Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have killed six suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) terrorists, arrested 11 suspected collaborators and recorded the surrender of a terrorist member in Borno State.
The operations, conducted in Kaga and Gwoza Local Government Areas of the state, also led to the recovery of firearms, ammunition, mobile phones and other items suspected to be linked to terrorist activities.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Sunday.
Goni said troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade Garrison, working with Hybrid Force personnel, ambushed ISWAP/JAS terrorists along the Targejeri axis of Kaga Local Government Area at about 12:37 a.m. on October 25, 2026, killing six terrorists.
Items recovered from the terrorists included an AK-47 rifle, three magazines, 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two Android phones, three button phones and charms.
In a related operation, troops arrested six additional suspected terrorist collaborators during a follow-up raid in Benisheikh town, Kaga LGA, at about 6:20 a.m. on October 24.
The arrests brought the number of suspects apprehended in connection with the investigation to 11, including five suspects arrested earlier.
According to the statement, the raid also yielded an AK-47 rifle, three empty magazines, 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three terrorist uniforms, a turban, a head mask, two Android phones, three button phones and charms.
Goni said the suspects were undergoing investigation to determine their alleged involvement in terrorist activities and establish possible links with other members of the network.
Meanwhile, troops of the 192 Battalion (Main), supported by Hybrid Force personnel deployed at the Hambagda Internally Displaced Persons camp in Gwoza LGA, received a JAS member who surrendered at about 9:20 p.m. on October 24.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the individual had escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Gwoza area of the Mandara Mountains and decided to abandon terrorism.
The individual surrendered with an AK-47 rifle and a magazine containing 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
The military spokesman said the former terrorist was in custody and undergoing further investigation and processing in line with established procedures.
He said the latest operations demonstrated the sustained offensive posture, combat readiness and coordination of OPHK troops and Hybrid Force personnel in degrading terrorist capabilities, disrupting their support networks and encouraging defections.
The Theatre Command reiterated its commitment to intelligence-led operations aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action and creating conditions for the safe return of displaced persons and the restoration of socio-economic activities.
It also urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to support efforts to restore lasting peace and stability in the North-East.
